Combination watch and compass



Oct. 28, 1958 J. J. WEIGENANT COMBINATION WATCH AND COMPASS led March29, 1956 United States Patent pas COMBINATION WATQH AND COMPASS l Josephl. Weigenant, St. Paul, .lt/finti, Application March 29, 1956, SerialNo. 574,666

11 Claims. (Cl. 58-126) This invention relates to a combination watchand compass having a compass needle which is mounted for rotation aboutthe axis of the watch dial train and particularly to improved means lforsupporting the compass needle and for moving it to and from its activeposition in which it oats freely on a supporting shaft.

It is an object of my invention to provide, in connection with watchmovements of conventional types, novel mechanism for supporting acompass needle at the center of the dial and for actuating the needle toand from an active freely floating position.

Another object is to provide compass mechanism which is adapted to beembodied in watch movements of several of the conventional or standardtypes with only minor alteration of or additions to the watch mechanism.

A particular object is to provide in mechanism of the class described acompass shaft carrying a compass needle on its front or normally upperend and movable longitudinally within the hollow center pinion shaft ofa watch movement to move the needle from a retracted position in whichit turns with the hollow center pinion shaft to an extended position inwhich the compass needle is free to rotate on its shaft.

A further and particular object is to provide in mechanism of the classdescribed a compass needle which when not in use as a compass functionsas a sweep second hand of the watch.

Other objects will appear and be more fully pointed out in the followingspecification and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates, by way ofexample and not for the purpose of limitation a preferred and modifiedform of my invention:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing a watch with the crystalremoved and having my improved compass mechanism of the type wherein thecompass needle operates as a sweep second hand;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. l through the watch dial train and case showing my improved compassmechanism and with the compass needle in its active position;

Fig. 3 is a back side View with the back of the watch removed, showingthe compass actuating mechanism mounted at the back of the pillar plateand in the active position;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational View, with the crystal removed, showing amodification of my compass attachment on a watch of another type;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic cross sectional View taken on the line 5 5 ofFig. 4 showing the modified form of 'dial train and compass, with thecompass needle in its free or active position, and

Fig. 6 is a bacl view of the compass actuating mechanism of the modifiedform shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and in the needle freeing position.

My invention is illustrated in connection with watch. movements ofconventional types, each having a dial 7 carrying the usual or suitabledial markings and additional markings suitable lfor a compass. Otherelements of the 2,857,734 Patented Oct. 28, 1958 kfice 0 machanism areomitted from the drawing since they form no part of the presentinvention. It is, of course, essential that the entire watch be ofnon-magnetic construction in order to permit free rotation of thecompass needle on its shaft when released for use as a compass.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, my improved compass needle 17 has at itsnormally upper side a jewel bearing 18 adapted to support the needlewhen lin active position on the pointed upper end of a compass shaft 19.This shaft extends axially of the dial train from above the needle tothe back of the train where a head 20 is formed on the shaft to beengaged by members, hereinafter described, for yactuating the pinionlongitudinally. The dial train shown in Fig. 2 includes a hollow sweepsecond pinion 21 and its' shaft in which the compass shaft 19 isjournaled, a center wheel 22 having a hollow shaft 23, and a cannonpinion 24 having a hollow shaft exteriorly of the shaft 23 carrying theminute hand 12 on its front or upper end. A sweep second wheel 21aactuates the pinion 21 and its shaft. Also shown is an hour wheel 25 andits hollow shaft fitting the exterior surface of the shaft carryingcannon pinion 24 and having the hour hand 11 fixed on its front end.

A sweep second pinion bridge 26 (Figs. 2 and 3) affords a bearing forthe compass shaft 19, being rigidly mounted on the plate 15. At the backof this bridge and resiliently engaging the lower or back side of thehead 2l) is a spring 27 having one end fixed on the plate 15. The freeend of this spring engages the head 20 and is movable by a lever 28 toextend the shaft 19. One end of the lever 28 is fixed on a detent screw29 and the other end portion slidably engages the back side of thespring 27. rThe detent screw 29 is a part of the conventional watchmovement and is oscillated about its axis when the stem 10 of the watchis moved in or out longitudinally to and from its hand setting position.In such movements a detent screw 29 is operatively connected to a clutchlever 30 and the latter is adapted to be actuated by a clutch wheel 31shown diagrammatically in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Pulling the stem 10 and crown 9 out actuates the lever 28 from thebroken line position to the full line position shown in Fig. 3 andcauses the spring 27 to move the compass shaftv 19 and head 20 inward ortoward the front of the watch. When the crown 9 is pushed inward thespindle 10 acting through the clutch wheel 31, clutch lever 30 and screw29 moves the lever 28 to the retracted broken line position and allowsthe center pinion to return downward toward the back of the watch. Atension spring 32 is arranged to bias the compass shaft 19 downward byengagement with the upper side of the head Z0. This spring 32 extendsalong the lower side of the bridge 26 and is fixed at one end thereon.The other end of thel spring 32 is bifurcated to straddle the shaft 19and engage the head 20.

Near the upper or front end of the compass shaft 19 this shaft is formedwith a detent 33 having the form of `an annular flange adapted to engagethe upper side of the compass needle 17. At the opposite side of theneedlel the shaft of the hollowV sweep second pinion 21 is provided withan annular flange 34 adapted to frictionallyV engage the lower side ofthe needle when the shaft 19 is. moved downwardly by the spring 32.

When the compass needle is to be used, the watch is held with the dialin 'substantially horizontal position and the crown 9 is pulled out toextend the compass shaft 19 upwardly andtherebylift theneedle l? fromfrictional tteeiypwitn is awa nearingbis entire point af in@ sind :19.To render the needle 17 inoperative as Aa direction ind'cato'r and canseit to function as a sweep seco-nd hand, croit/m19 is', pushed in. Thelever 2S is thereretract'edfre'eing the spring 27 for vdownwardmovenient `and causing'thetensionspring 252 to retract the Shania foi'tspsnio'whereia 'the needieivis frissonnly` 4held between the flangeT53` lon the shaft i9 and flange 34 onl the shaftof'the sweep secondhand'pihion 2l. This pinion andl its shaft are ,continuously turned 'atthe rate of onerevolution per mintite by the clock mechanism. Thus theneedle lli is caused to function as a sweepsecond hand whennot i`r1`u`seas a compass needle.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 44, 5 and6,the'pri1 icipal elements of a watch of conventional type aredesignated by the same reference numerals asin Figs. l,l Zand 3. In thismodification a compass needle 17a, when in inactive position, is causedto turn with the minute hand which is frictionally driven from thehollow shaft'of cannon pinion 24 (Fig. 5). The compass needle 17a hasjewel bearing lea adapted to be'supported on the pointed upper end of ashaft lila s iinilar to theshaft 19. The shaft 19o is movablelongitndin'allyin a hollow center shaft 2da upon which the cannon pinion24 is friction tight. As further shown in Fig. 5, thewho'ur hand lll ismounted to turn with the hoor wheel 25 -and the center wheel 22 of thewatch movement is also shown. A second hand 35 and associated dial isshown in'Fig. 4.

My mechanism for l"actuating the compass shaft 19a carrying` the needle17a is similar to that hereinbefore described for actuatingl the shafti9. The back or lower end ofthe shaft 19a is provided with a head 20adisposed to be engaged on one side by the spring 27 and at the Aotherside ,by the tension spring '32 Ywhich is mounted on a bridge 26a. Themechanism also includes the engaging llever 28 operatively connected tothe stem lil by the clutch wheel 3l, clutch lever 3f) and detent screw29.

rIf-Vohreirder the compass needle 17a active so that it `floats freely.on the upper end of the shaft F.9d, the vcrown 9Uis`rnerely pulled outas hereinbefore described. This causes the lever 2? to actuate thespring 27 to move the shaft 19a toits upwardlylextended position.Theneedle 17o is thus freedto point to the `'magnetic north when the isheld the dial in substantially horizontal position. A detentcornprisingan annular flange 33a is provided on the shaft 19a above the needlelll'a for lengagement with the upper side of the needle when the shaft19a isJretracted. filo 4retract this shaft and render `-the needle 17ainactive, the crown 2- is merely pushed in.

lThis allows the tension spring 32 'to retract'the shaft 19a and drawthe needle 17a down against the upper end of the cannon pinion shaft 24acarrying the minute hand l2. Thereupon the needle 17a turns with `'theminute hand. It maybe aligned with the minute hand by suitablemanipulation of the watch before the needle is retracted to its inactiveposition. y i

Modications of the mechanism described herein may be made within thespirit of my invention as defined in theiappended claims.

I claim:

l. In a combination watch and compass, watch mechanismV having a dial,minute and hour hands movable over the dial face, and a hollow centerpinion shaft, the improvements which comprise, a compass shaft coaxiallymounted in said hollow center pinion shaft and projecting therefrom atthe front end thereof, said compass shaft being movable longitudinallyin said hollow pinion shaft,a compassneedle having a bearing rotatablymounted 'on the projecting end of said compass shaft, detent meanscarried by said compass shaft for engaging said compass needle to retainit against rotation relative to'said hollow center pinion shaft andmeans for selectively moving said compass shaft longitudinally to eitheran extended position in which the compass needle is free to rotate onsaid compass shaft or to a retracted position against said hollow centershaft in which said needle is retained against rotation on the centerpinion shaft by said detent means.

2. A combination watch and compass according to claim l wherein saidmeans for selectively moving said longitudinally comprises, manuallyoperaole means operatively connected to said compass shaft for actuatingit to said extended position.

3. A combination watch and compass according to claim 'l wherein saidmeans for selectively moving said compass shaft longitudinallycomprises, spring means operatively connected to said shaft forretracting it, and manually operabley means operatively connected tosaid shaft for' actuating it to said extended position.

4. A combination watch and compass laccording to claim l wherein saidhollow center pinion shaft comprises `a sweep second, constantlyrotating shaft vwhereby said compass needle is operative as a sweepsecond hand when said detent is in engagement with said needle.

I5. A combination watch and compass according to claim l having a hollowcannon pinion shaft carrying the has a friction drive Yconnection withthe said cannon pinion shaft of the watch whereby said compass needle isrotated with the minute hand when said detent is in engagement with saidneedle.

6. in a combination watch and compass, watch mechanism having a dial,minute and hour hands movable over the dial face and a dial trainincluding a hollow center pinion shaft, lthe improvements kwhichcomprise, a compass shaft coaxially mounted in said hollow 1pinion shaftand projecting at the front and back ends thereof.` said compass shaftbeing movable longitudinally in said hollow pinion shaft, a compassneedle having a bearing .rotatably mounted on the front end of saidcompass shaft, detent means carried by said 'coin'pass 'shaft forengaging said compass 'needleto retain it against free rotation relativeto 'said hollow center 'pinion shaft and means operatively connected tothe projecting backend portion of said compass shaft for selectivelymoving said compass shaft longitudinally to either an extended positionin which the compass needle is free for rotation thereon or to aretracted position in which lsaid needle is retained against rotation byengaging it with said detent means and hollow center shaft.

7. A combination watch and compass according to claim 6 wherein saidmeans forselectively moving said compass shaft longitudinally comprises,spring means operatively connected to said compass shaft for moving itto said retracted position, and manually operable means operativelyconnected to the back end portion of said compass shaft for actuating`it to said extended position.

8. A combination watch and compass in accordance with claim'6 whereinsaid compass shaft has a head fixed on' the back end portion thereof,and said Ameans for selectively moving said compass shaft longitudinallycomprises a spring engaging said head at one side to bias said compassshaft toward said retracted position, a spring linger engaging theopposite side of said head for moving said compass shaft to saidextended position and manuute hand of the watch and wherein said hollowcenter pinion shaft has a friction drive connection with said cannonpinion shaft whereby said compass needle is rotated with the minute handwhen said detent is in engagement with said needle.

11. In a combination watch and compass, watch mechanism having a dial,minute and hour hands movable over the dial face, a winding and settingstem and a hollow center pin'ion shaft, the improvements which comprise,a compass shaft coaxially mounted in said hollow center pinion shaft andprojecting therefrom at the front and back ends thereof, said compassshaft being movable longitudinally in said hollow center pinion shaft, acompass needle having a bearing rotatably mounted on the front end ofsaid compass shaft, detent means carried by said compass shaft forengaging said compass needle to retain it against rotation relative tosaid hollow center pinion shaft, and means operatively connected to saidstem for selectively moving said compass shaft longitudinally to eitheran extended position in which the compass needle is free to rotate onsaid compass shaft or to a retracted position in' which said needle iscaused to rotate 10 with said hollow center pinion shaft.

No references cited.

